Mission Valley Power would like our valued customers to be aware of the sometimes lengthy process for installing a new service or upgrading an existing one. With the fair weather months upon us, early planning is vital to avoiding unnecessary delays in your construction projects.
At Mission Valley Power, we use a work order process to manage new construction or existing upgrade projects. Following is an overview of the steps and possible time frames for each stage:
First step: Application Stage– Complete a New Electrical Service application (along with a new Electrical Service Contract application) or a Service Upgrade Application. This can be done either online or in person. Please ensure that you provide all required information, including your ID and proof of ownership, as well as the $200 non-refundable application fee. Failure to complete any of these steps may cause delays with your project. Time Frame- Varies depending on how quickly the customer provides the necessary information and documentation.
Next step: Planning Stage– Once the application stage is complete, a service order and work order will be created and forwarded to the Customer Services Representative. All new services require a deposit or credit reference. The project will be assigned to a staking technician to schedule a site visit and project scoping. Time Frame- It may take up to 4 weeks before the site visit is scheduled.
Next step: Staking and Estimation Stage- The staking technician will prepare an estimated project cost (or ATC), which a senior engineer will review before being presented to the customer. Time Frame- Approx. 4 weeks
Next step: Customer Pays ATC- Once the customer is ready to proceed and the ATC for the estimated cost is paid in full, the work order will be released to Operations. It is important to note that during this stage, the customer will need to obtain all necessary right-of-way easements and permits, as well as complete any required actions (such as clearing trees or moving fences) before proceeding to the last step. Time Frame- Dependent on the customer’s schedule.
Last step: Work is Scheduled- The Operation department’s Foreman III will schedule and oversee the completion of the customer project. Time Frame- Scheduling time is dependent on the workload and time of year, currently about 1 month. Completion time depends on the scope of the project.
As you can see, the entire process can take well over 3-4 months from start to finish, so it is important to plan ahead for your construction projects that require Mission Valley Power’s assistance.
For more information on Work Orders, you can view the complete process on our website here: Work Orders, or contact our Engineering Department at 406-883-7970.
